ESSAY- On Amtrak: You can't get there from here...

Nearly everything about my recent vacation in Florida was perfect: the beaches, wildlife, sunsets, you name it. My only disappointment? The way I got there.

I took a plane, as anyone who lives 1,500 miles away would. Not that anything went wrong; the trip was pretty stress-free. Instead, I was disappointed that I couldn't take a train– couldn't stroll to the Amtrak station in my Vermont hometown, board a coach car with plush seats, leg room, and picture windows, rumble down the Atlantic coast and really see America, rather than gazing blankly at clouds from 30,000 feet.

Okay, technically I could have taken the train. But to reach Fort Myers, I would've had to endure an overnight layover in New York, a 25-hour train ride to Tampa, and two-hour bus ride. I wanted to see America, but not lose a third of my vacation before even arriving at my destination.

...but now you can

All aboard as a new service launches Thursday, October 1.FILE PHOTO BY HAWES SPENCER

Thanks to a full-court press by former City Councilor Meredith Richards and a nearly $2 million annual state subsidy, Charlottesville travelers will soon have an additional connection to the northeast corridor as Amtrak unveils a new passenger rail service October 1. The unnamed Lynchburg-originating train will leave Charlottesville at 8:49 in the morning (11:10am Saturday and Sunday) as it heads through such cities as Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia toward New York– and, on weekdays, all the way to Boston. Returns between 6:25 and 7:23pm, the seven-car train includes a dining car as well as business class and a quiet car. A round-trip costs as little as $44 to Washington, while New York starts at $120. "We've been selling our share of tickets," says longtime Charlottesville ticket agent Bill Thomas.

It shouldn't be this way. Americans, known for technological innovation, shouldn't have to be embarrassed that Europe and Asia have faster, more convenient and reliable passenger rail systems. Railroad travel was once ubiquitous in the U.S., but since the 1950s– when the automobile and interstate highway system began replacing it– passenger rail here has become a shell of what it once was. Amtrak's annual ridership was up 11 percent last year, to 28.7 million (a record), but compare that to the nearly 650 million passengers taking domestic flights on American Airlines in 2008.

One big problem: when it comes to passenger rail, you can't get there from here. While the U.S. claims more than 140,000 miles of Class I railroad line, and freight railroads haul more than 40 percent of all U.S. freight– everything from lumber to vegetables, coal to chemicals, grain to scrap iron– Amtrak travels along a mere 21,000 miles of those lines. As a result, many Americans aren't even served by Amtrak today; it doesn't even go to Wyoming or South Dakota, to most of Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Idaho or Maine. And on the routes that do exist, congestion and delays often happen because Amtrak shares most of its track with freight companies.

Adding insult to injury, our undersized passenger rail system has been grossly under-funded. For decades, Congress passed bare-bones Amtrak budgets, with fiscal conservative legislators citing the agency's lack of routes and stations as cause to shut down the government-owned corporation. Amtrak critics claim they dislike propping up a transportation system that should, in their minds, pay its own way.

But if it's public funding that budget hawks are upset about, why do they continue to provide the airline and auto industries with billions? What's more, not a single well-functioning passenger train system in the world functions without public funding.

Those of us who love trains and appreciate their ability to reduce air pollution and cut carbon emissions know this is a perfect time for passenger rail to make a comeback. Not only are Americans fed up with congested highways and airport security lines, but they're also seeking travel options that reduce foreign oil dependence and don't contribute as heavily to climate change.

Here, Amtrak delivers. In 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, Amtrak was 18 percent more fuel-efficient than the airlines per passenger mile, and 24 percent more fuel efficient than cars. Amtrak has also swapped some diesel locomotives for electric ones, and trialed a hybrid locomotive. It's even testing biodiesel fuel on its Heartland Flyer, running from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City.

High-speed rail too holds promise. In the stimulus bill passed by Congress in February, $8 billion was invested in high-speed rail projects that will benefit both Amtrak and state departments of transportation. The stimulus also provided $1.3 billion for Amtrak to rebuild infrastructure and upgrade safety. But after decades of neglect, Congress must invest far more if Amtrak is to catch up. Vice President Joe Biden, who used to commute from Delaware to his Senate seat in Washington on Amtrak, could be a real advocate for trains in Congress. But so must we.

Why not see if Amtrak can fit conveniently into your summer vacation plans? It goes to some great tourist spots, including San Diego, Orlando, Washington, and the Rocky Mountains; often the train is cheaper than the plane. Check for routes and stations at http://www.amtrak.com.

Better yet, lobby Congress for new routes and stations that service your region and hometown. Or recruit local train lovers and start an advocacy group. If hundreds of citizens showed up in Congress demanding passenger train service to Fort Myers, Fla., Cheyenne, Wyo., or Nashville, Tenn. that would get people's attention.

It may seem old-fashioned to embrace a mode of transportation that had its heyday in the 19th century. But progress sometimes means taking a step back.

8 comments

salz October 2nd, 2009 | 3:50pm

While I greatly favor rail passenger traffic, there is one point that rarely gets made when we discuss more of it. The rails, themselves, are owned by the private rail companies, not Amtrak, and -- as happened in Texas -- when schedules clash Amtrak passengers are left waiting...and waiting...and waiting.

In VA, we've already paid Norfolk Southern millions in taxpayer dollars to increase and improve east-west and north-south freight rail as a method of getting 18=wheelers off I-66/64 and -- soon -- I-81. When the I-81 move is finished Norfolk Southern expects 20 8,000-foot-long trains daily to pass through our area. If rail's freight times get too long, the one million trucks per year will go right back to I-81...and our tax dollars will be wasted.

Norfolk Southern will, no doubt, err on the side of freight. Passenger service will likely lose out.

WestBerkeleyFlats October 2nd, 2009 | 3:59pm

but compare that to the nearly 650 million passengers taking domestic flights on American Airlines in 2008.

***

I would except that 71 million passengers took domestic flights on American Airlines in 2008.

Perhaps you meant U.S. airlines?

Dave October 2nd, 2009 | 10:43pm

" Can't get there from here " Ditto for Nashville.Tennessee. The nearest station to Nashville, is either Memphis or Atlanta.GA. Both around 250 miles from Nashville. Most 3rd world countries do better then we do, when it comes to passenger rail, in middle Tennessee. All the talk about High Speed rail and Maglev, we would be satisfied with a regular Amtrak train doing 75mph. Nashville to Atlanta in under 4 hours. Wow, we would think we had died and gone to heaven !

Phil October 2nd, 2009 | 11:26pm

In March of this year, we had the fortunate experience of taking our to Florida on the Auto Train. We are planning to do the same again. It's true that we had to drive for about seven hours the day before we were supposed to take th train. of course the best way to go is in a sleeper. The food, which was included was excellent. We were able to take a shower upon arrisine. We arrived in Sanford, Florida refreshed. I believe that the Auto Train is the vest way to go to Florida.

Phil October 2nd, 2009 | 11:29pm

In March of this year, we had the fortunate experience of taking our to Florida on the Auto Train. We are planning to do the same next year. It's true that we had to drive for about seven hours the day before we were supposed to take the train. Of course the best way to go is in a sleeper. The food, which was included was excellent. We were able to take a shower upon arising. We arrived in Sanford, Florida refreshed. I believe that the Auto Train is the best way to go to Florida.

Tom October 3rd, 2009 | 11:55am

I have traveled in Europe on business and pleasure for the last 30 years. In fact, I just returned from France yesterday. Every time I go to Europe, I am reminded how dysfunctional and inadequate our public rail system is. There are a lot reasons for this of course, but suffice to say that our politicians should be embarrassed by their woeful lack of leadership and sustained support for a robust and well managed public rail system. Our public rail system is really pitiful in comparison to Europe's and if we truly want to be "green", we need to invest in rail as a true public means of transport.